Immigrants support bill that would extend in-state tuition rates

Friday

Feb 8, 2013 at 3:15 AMFeb 8, 2013 at 5:50 AM

By Jim Haddadinjhaddadin@fosters.com

CONCORD — Indonesians living in Dover, Madbury and Rochester voiced their support Thursday for a bill that would extend in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants who grow up in New Hampshire and go on to attend public universities.

House Bill 474 was introduced by Dover Rep. Peter Schmidt at the beginning of January. It would grant in-state status to university students who are “without lawful immigration status,” as long as they meet all other criteria as other students who qualify for in-state status.

In order to eligible, students would also be required to sign an affidavit stating they have filed, or will file, an application to “legalize” their citizenship status. The affidavits would be considered education records, and they would be barred from public disclosure, under the language proposed by Schmidt.

Undergraduate students who qualified for in-state tuition at the University of New Hampshire during the 2012-2013 academic year paid $16,422, not including room and board, according to UNH's website. Non-resident UNH students paid $28,882.

Schmidt's bill is due out of the House Education Committee by March 7.

During a first hearing on the matter Thursday, Schmidt explained his legislation is targeted toward students who were brought to the United States as children, and who have grown up attending schools in New Hampshire.

“It's clearly the case that we have people here not because they came here illegally themselves, but because they were brought here by their parents,” Schmidt said.

The bill could potentially benefit some members of the local Indonesian community, including those who have filed for political asylum, whether successfully or unsuccessfully.

Among them is 24-year-old Lisa Ngantung. A Rochester resident, Ngantung has lived in the United states for half of her life, after being brought to the country by her parents.

She studied at Great Bay Community College, and now hopes to pursue a degree in International Business at UNH. But the cost of non-resident tuition at the school has kept her goal out of reach, she said.

She was joined at the meeting by Sandra Pontoh, pastor at the Maranatha Indonesian United Church of Christ in Madbury. The church is one of 14 houses of worship in New Hampshire serving members of the Indonesian community, she said.

Also speaking in support of the bill Thursday was Arnie Alpert, New Hampshire Program Coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). AFSC is a Quaker social justice organization with a long history of assisting people displaced by war and political upheaval.

Alpert said the bill is modeled after language already used in other states. He said it is designed for people who “live in New Hampshire, grew up in New Hampshire and are New Hampshire residents.”

However, HB474 bill faces an uncertain fate in the House, where Republicans are likely to oppose it, according to Hooksett Rep. David Hess.

“We don't think now is the time to be subsidizing students who do not otherwise qualify for in-state tuition rates,” Hess told the Education Committee, speaking on behalf of House Republican leadership.

Some members of the committee also voiced concerns that the bill isn't narrowly tailored to benefit students who were brought to the U.S. as children.

In response, Schmidt said he's open to an amendment, although the language in his bill has already been vetted by officials at the University of New Hampshire.

Immigration reform proposals under review in the U.S. Congress could offer a new path to citizenship for many of the undocumented students being targeted by Schmidt's legislation in New Hampshire.

A group of senators, both Democrats and Republicans, has agreed on a framework for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship. It could benefit an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country. Another group of lawmakers is working on its own proposal in the Republican-controlled U.S. House.